2007年VOA标准英语-Thailand Readies For Sunday's Referendum on New

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
17 August 2007

The Thai government faces a test of credibility when it holds a referendum Sunday on a new constitution. As Ron Corben reports, the government has urged people to approve the draft, while its opponents have campaigned against it.

 

ballot1 box stands next to a policement urging people to vote in the upcoming constitutional referendum in Bangkok, 17 Aug 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070825/1000440.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Thai campaigner (r) dressed as a ballot box stands next to policeman urging people to vote in upcoming constitutional referendum in Bangkok, 17 Aug 2007

The Thai government's publicity² campaign ahead of Sunday's constitutional referendum has included music like this on the radio and street rallies to lure³ as many as of the 45 million voters that it can to cast a ballot.

 

The ballot is a key step in Thailand's effort to restore democracy after a military coup⁴ last September ousted⁵ Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now living in exile in Britain. If it is approved, the government can hold general elections late this year.

 

Mr. Thaksin has been accused of undermining independent institutions with political appointments and using loopholes in the old constitution to dominate the parliament.

 

After the military installed a new government, it created a panel to draft a new constitution.

 

Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp says Sunday's vote is a step toward political normalcy.

 

"This referendum is a chance for the people to come and give their vote whether they feel that this new constitution answers all these problems or not, whether the new constitution can fill in those loopholes intended," said Mayalarp.

 

Among other things, the draft constitution lowers the number of members of parliament and limits how long prime ministers can hold office.

Political analysts⁶ say even if it wins, a low turnout would undermine the credibility of the government and the military committee that oversees⁷ it.

 

This week, both the government and its opponents held colorful and noisy rallies. There also were allegations of vote buying and other attempts to manipulate the outcome.

 

Opponents have accused government of intimidating⁸ voters. The opponents include Mr. Thaksin's supporters, as well as many anti-military activists⁹.

 

Several key groups, including the business sector¹⁰, support the proposed constitution.

 

Desai Mywong is a shop owner in the seaside town of Pattaya. He supports the draft because it shifts power toward the judiciary and independent institutions and curbs¹¹ executive power.

 

"This constitution is better than the last constitution. More freedom especially for Thai people - not for the government or the official," said Mywong.

 

A 35-year-old information technology worker at an anti-referendum rally says no matter the result, the political outlook for Thailand remains¹² uncertain.

"I don't support the draft constitution, because I don't agree with the coup. Although the government can pass the constitution and maybe the election occur this year, but the political conflicts still remain," he said.

A defeat for the constitution on Sunday will require the government to select a previous constitution to use, and then delay elections, probably until next year.

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

3 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

5 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

8 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

11 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。